Intel vs AMD 1 Part 1 Comparative History

Intel vs AMD 1

Part 1: Comparative History �Generally Intel has been the dominant producer of microprocessor chips �AMD has proven to be a fierce competitor �Competition stimulated the industry by producing new and innovative microprocessors �In the mid nineties Intel begins to face true competition 2

Comparative History – 80286 chip � 1980’s-Intel was the only true producer of marketable computer chips � 1982 -introduce 80286 � 286 was able to run software of its prior microprocessor 3

Comparative History – 80286 chip �Within 6 years, 15 million 286’s are installed around the world �Intel contracts third party companies to produce 286’s and variants �AMD was one of these third party companies �AMD became very efficient and capable of being its own producer of microprocessors 4

Comparative History – 386 chip � 1985, Intel releases its 32 -bit 386 microprocessor. �Faster and capable of multitasking �AMD, under licensed production, produces 386 chips allowing Intel to meet market demands 5

Comparative History – 386 chip �During the reign of the 386, AMD decides to produce its own CPU. � 1987 -AMD began legal arbitration over rights to produce their own chips. �After 5 years of battle, the courts sided with AMD. 6

Comparative History -486 chip � 1989 -Intel releases its 486 DX. �Allowed point and clicking �Initially twice as fast as its predecessor. �Intel continued to upgrade to speeds reaching 66 MHz. 7

Comparative History -Am 386 chip � 1991 -AMD released Am 386 �Intel’s 486 released two years prior �AMD believed there still existed a market �By October, AMD sold one million units 8

Comparative History -Am 486 chip � 1993 -AMD releases first competing chip: Am 486 � 1994 -AMD improves chip with Am 486 DX �Am 486 DX processes up to 100 MHz 9

Comparative History - Pentium � 1993, Intel realizes it cannot trademark numbers “x 86. ” �This allows AMD the ability to essentially clone Intel’s chips �Intel’s solution: dubs its new chip the Pentium instead of releasing it as the “ 586”

Comparative History - Pentium �Handles and processes more media types such as speech, sound , and photographic images. �It Offered multiple processing speeds up to 200 MHz. �It became well entrenched in the market �During this time, Intel truly dominated

Comparative History - Am 5 x 86 � 1995 - AMD’s first attempt to compete with the Pentium by introducing Am 5 x 86 �It was really for those who wanted to upgrade their 486 motherboards without making a jump to the Pentium motherboard �AMD did not fare well with this chip

Comparative History - AMD K 5 � 1996 -K 5 introduced �First chip comparable to the Pentium �Could be placed in the same motherboard as the Pentium, making it compatible �Because it was released 3 years after the Pentium, it was met with cool reception

Comparative History – Pentium Pro �In the previous year, Intel released the Pentium Pro �Able to handle more instructions per clock cycle �Intel’s ability to get a new chip on the market before AMD has had the effect of overshadowing any of AMD’s microprocessors

Comparative History - AMD K 6 � 1996 -AMD purchases the company Nex. Gen who were making a microprocessor of their own �AMD uses their core 686 processor to develop the AMD K 6 �Additionally, they slap on Intel’s MMX code making it compatible with Pentiums.

Comparative History - AMD K 6 �K 6 was released in 1997 and reached speeds of 166 Mhz to 200 Mhz �K 6 was significantly cheaper than the Pentium �K 6 was able to move up to speeds as high as 300 MHz, out performing the Pentiums �Intel was ready for the challenge

Comparative History - Pentium II �Later than year, Intel unveils the Pentium II �It was equipped with MMX instructions, ready to handle video, audio, and graphics data �Better capable of handling video editing, sending media via the Internet, and reprocessing music �By 1998, the Pentium began to climb in processing speeds up to 450 MHz.

Comparative History - The Celeron �K 6 was doing well as a cost effective alternative to the Pentium II, although it was an inferior chip �In response, in 1998, Intel introduced its own cheaper and inferiror microprocessor: the Celeron �It was a stripped down version of the Pentium II

Comparative History - AMD’s K 6 -2 �AMD fights back with an enhanced K 6 to take on the Pentium II: the K 6 -2 �Their K 6 chip included what they called “ 3 DNow” technology � 3 DNow is an additional twenty-two instructions to better handle audio, video, and graphic intensive programs �AMD then releases K 6 -3 and proves to be a threat to Intel

Comparative History - Pentium III � 1999 -Intel responds by coming out with the Pentium III �It had an additional 70 instructions, improving its ability to process advanced imaging, streaming audio, video, & speech recognition programs �One goal of the Pentium III was to enhance the Internet experience

Comparative History - the Athlon �The Athlon was a new chip from the ground up �It was capable of doing everything the Pentium III could do, but was much cheaper �The Athlon was beating out the Pentium III

Comparative History - Celeron II �In 2000, Intel decides to launch a two pronged attack against AMD �First, Intel fights for low-end market by introducing the Celeron II �It ranges in speed between 500 and 1100 MHz. �It was a stripped down processor with enhanced speed �It was fairly cheap, making it competitive

Comparative History -Pentium IV �Intel also introduces the Pentium IV �It uses four main new technologies: Hyper Pipelined Technology, Rapid Execution Engine, Execution Trace Cache and a 400 MHz system bus �Its major improvement was increased speed, initially starting at 1. 5 Ghz with ability for expansion �Today it’s reaching upwards to a remarkable 3 GHz

Comparative History - Pentium IV �The Pentium IV can now produce high quality video � stream radio and TV quality information across the internet �Render upscale graphics in real-time �Perform several applications simultaneously while connected to the Internet

Comparative History - the Duron �As result of Intel’s attack on AMD, Intel is once again dominating the market �AMD’s response to the Celeron II was the Duron, released the same year (2000) �It is a geared down version of the Athlon, but edges out the Celeron

Comparative History - Athlon XP �The Athlon chip was destroying the Pentium III, but now is destined for the graveyard �In response to the Pentium IV, AMD enhanced the Athlon by coming out with the XP series. �Test show that an Athlon XP running 1. 4 GHz performs nearly as well as a Pentium of 2 Ghz �The Athlon XP is a quality chip, but is fading away under the onslaught of the heavy performance of the Pentium IV

Comparative History–the Claw. Hammer �Intel now holds edge over AMD in chip technology �Rumored that AMD is developing a powerhouse chip called the Claw. Hammer �It is apparently in a testing stage

Chipsets �Our goal has been to understand the history and details of the competition and their processors between Intel and AMD �Also of importance are Chipsets �Knowing some information on chipsets helps determine an appropriate opinion on Intel & AMD

Chipsets �A chipset is a group of integrated circuits, sold as one unit, designed to perform one or more related functions �We are focused on chipsets that provide functionality for the CPU �We compared chipsets from both AMD and Intel as well as an outside manufacturer, who makes chipsets for both, VIA.

�Most advanced chipset for the AMD CPU �Consists of the VT 8235 Southbridge and the VT 8377 Northbridge.

Main Features of KT 400 �Front Side Bus (FSB) up to 333 Mhz �Support for PC 3200 DDR Ram memory @ 400 Mhz �North-South Bridge Link @ 533 Mhz � 5 available PCI slots

KT 400 VT 8377 Features Lightening fast memory access: 2. 7 Gb/s AGP @ 8 X offers 2. 1 Gb/s dedicated speed to 3 D graphics Fast 333 Mhz FSB

KT 400 VT 8235 Features 533 Mhz 8 X V-link interface between North and South bridge USB 2. 0 ATA 133 6 Channel Audio

Performance Measurements AMD (using KT 400) vs. Pentium Using Soyo’s KT 400 Ultra Dragon Motherboard

Higher number better

Higher number better

Higher number better

AMD 760 MPX Chipset (Dual Processor) �Consists of the AMD-762 system controller (northbridge) and the AMD-768 peripheral bus controller (southbridge).

Main features of AMD 760 MPX �Front Side Bus (FSB) up to 266 Mhz per processor (533 Mhz) �Support for PC 2100 DDR Ram memory @ 266 Mhz �North-South Bridge Link @ 66 Mhz �Up to 7 available PCI slots

Features of AMD 760 MPX 762 System Controller � Two 266 MHz pointto-point AMD system buses � PC 2100 DDR Ram memory @ 266 Mhz � AGP 4 X video card support

Features of AMD 760 MPX 768 Peripheral Bus Controller �Host PCI bus utilizing a 66 MHz/64 -bit interface. Secondary 33 MHz/32 -bit PCI bus interface, including PCI bus arbiter with support for up to eight external devices �UDMA 33/66/100 compatible EIDE bus master controller �SMBus controller with one SMBus port

Advantages of the AIPC and the SMBus �Through the AIPC bus, the Processors have direct access to the south bridge �Through the SMBus, the memory has the direct access to the south bridge �Disadvantage of direct access can be potential data conflict

The 860 Chipset

Structure �Designed for Xeon Processor � 2 Main Chips �MCH Memory Controller Hub �Controls the high speed bus �ICH 2 I/O controller Hub �Controls the peripheral devices

Over view of 860 chipset

High Speed Bus �Memory � 64 Bit PCI connection �Graphics Accelerators

Memory Configuration �RDRAM �Up to 64 devices supported by the Paired mode �Single Channel-pair Mode �Utilizes memory modules ( 4 Gigabytes) �Multiple Channel- pair mode �Utilizes MRH-R to control the expanded capabilities ( 16 Gigabytes of RAM)

Block Diagram

64 bit PCI Support � 400 MHz connection to the P 64 H chip �Allows for a fast connection to a high speed, PCI device �High data transfer rate �High Speed �A pair are bundled in the chipset

Graphics Accelerator �MCH connects to AGP 4 X �Connection speed of 1 GB/s �High performance Accelerators supported �Does not Support 8 X Accelerators

ICH 2 Peripherals Bus � 32 Bit PCI Bus �LAN Controller �I/O module �Keyboard, Mouse, Floppy disk drive, etc �ATA / 100 (IDE standard for Hard Drive) � 4 USB Ports

Features and Benefits

Overview 860 chipset �Highly Structured �Powered by up to 7 chips �High performance

Apollo Chipset �Designed for the Pentium 4 processor � 3 Segments in the Bus �North Bridge High speed bus �South Bridge peripheral devices

Block Diagram

North Bridge �System Bus � 400 MHz �Main memory �Connection at 266 MHz �Bottleneck �Accelerated Graphics Controller AGP � 4 X AGP support

South Bridge �Controls 32 bit PCI Bus (33 MHz) �Supports up to 6 USB devices �(2. 0 Standard) �Hard Drive �IDE (ATA 33 / 66 / 100 ) �LAN controller VT 6103

South Bridge (cont’d) �Several chips available �VT 8233 C �VT 8233 A �Each with a unique function �Price drops

Features �Supports Intel Pentium 4 Processor � 400 MHz (Quad 100) FSB setting �AGP 4 X graphics �Supports DDR 200/266 SDRAM as well as PC 100/133 SDRAM �Ultra fast 266 MB per second V-Link between North and South Bridge

Features (cont’d) �AC'97 and MC'97 Audio/Modem �Integrated 3 Com 10/100 Mb Ethernet Media Access Controller �Support for 2 ATA 33/66/100 interfaces � 6 USB ports, UHCI compliant �Advanced power management capabilities �Note Source: (Via P 4 X 266)

Overview �Highly structured �Unique features �LAN, sound, modem integrated � 4 GB of Ram �Promises to utilize Intel’s Quad bus pumping technology �Price conscientious

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